Garment with concealing technology

ABSTRACT

The disclosed garments are designed to address the need for thin, lightweight garments that adequately conceal undergarments and imperfections when in use. Particularly, the garments can conceal the garment’s construction, skin imperfections such as cellulite or tattoos, or the color of undergarments despite having a light-colored outer appearance. Methods of making the garments and the concealing material are also disclosed herein.

BACKGROUND

A common issue with conventional garments is that they often do not hidea wearer’s imperfections or undergarments beneath the garment. This isparticularly true where the garment is a light shade, such as a pastelor white color, or a pattern thereof. In an effort to address theseissues, garments have been designed with increased ply or tightness ofthe weave or knit of a fabric or by providing multiple layers of thesame fabric. However, this does not always provide enough opacificationto mask imperfections, garment construction, or undergarments,especially if the undergarments are white. Further, increasing ply orweave or knit tightness or layering the same fabric significantlyincreases the garment weight and causes the garments to becomeundesirably stiff or thick. There remains a need for garments,particularly light-weight or thin garments, that can adequately conceala wearer’s undergarments or imperfections.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are garments with a concealing material, wherein theconcealing material comprises an inner layer and an outer layeroverlaying the inner layer, wherein at least a portion of the outerlayer is white- or pastel-colored, wherein at least a portion of theinner layer has a predetermined shade of gray, and wherein the garmentis configured to conceal at least a portion of an undergarment, thegarment’s construction, or at least a portion of a wearer’s naturalanatomy when in use. In some aspects, the predetermined shade on thegray scale has CIE LCh coordinates of L = 1.24, C = 0.73, and h = 0.72,and wherein ΔE_(CMC) is about 12 to 15. In some aspects, the outer layercomprises an outer material. In further aspects, the outer material maycomprise a knitted or woven fabric. In some aspects, the inner layercomprises an inner material. In still further aspects, the inner layercomprises an adhesive layer. The inner material may be adhered to theouter layer with an adhesive layer. In other aspects, the inner materialcomprises an interior-only fiber knitted or woven onto at least aportion of an interior surface of the outer layer using a double knit ordouble weave configuration. In still other aspects, the inner materialcomprises an inner coating directly coated on the outer layer.

The garments disclosed herein have significant advantages overconventional garments in that they are thin and lightweight while stillbeing able to adequately conceal garment construction, like pocket bagsand seam allowance, and a wearer’s undergarments or imperfections.Methods of making the garments with concealing material are alsodisclosed herein. In addition to the aspects and aspects describedabove, further aspects will become apparent by reference to the drawingsand study of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an aspect of a garment withconcealing technology.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 illustrates a right side view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 illustrates a left side view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 illustrates an interior front view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 illustrates an interior back view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7 illustrates an interior right-side view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8 illustrates an interior left-side view of the aspect of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the materialof the garment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another aspect of thematerial of the garment of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description below refers to certain aspects of the garment relativeto other aspects of the garment or to the body of a wearer. As usedherein, superior indicates a direction that is closer to the wearer’shead. Inferior indicates a direction that is closer to the wearer’sfeet. Upward, upper, or uppermost indicates a superior direction, ortoward a wearer’s head. Downward, lower, or lowermost indicates aninferior direction, or toward a wearer’s feet. The longitudinaldirection refers to an axis extending between the superior and inferioredges of the garment, or between the wearer’s head and feet. Lateralindicates a positioning that is closer to the sides of the wearer.Medial indicates a positioning that is farther from the sides of thewearer. The terms right and left are in reference to the wearer’s body.Some of the figures can include the letters R and L as right and leftdirectional indicators.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,”“upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature’s relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The following description of certain examples of the inventive conceptsshould not be used to limit the scope of the claims. Other examples,features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent to those skilledin the art from the following description. As will be realized, thedevice and/or methods are capable of other different and obviousaspects, all without departing from the spirit of the inventiveconcepts. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regardedas illustrative in nature and not restrictive. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.As used in the specification and in the claims, the term “comprising”can include the aspects “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of.”Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.”

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novelfeatures of the aspects of this disclosure are described herein. Thedescribed methods, systems, and apparatus should not be construed aslimiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed towardall novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosedaspects, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with oneanother. The disclosed methods, systems, and apparatus are not limitedto any specific aspect, feature, or combination thereof, nor do thedisclosed methods, systems, and apparatus require that any one or morespecific advantages be present or problems be solved.

Features, integers, characteristics, or groups described in conjunctionwith a particular aspect, or example of the invention are to beunderstood to be applicable to any other aspect, aspect or exampledescribed herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the featuresdisclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,abstract, and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method orprocess so disclosed, can be combined in any combination, exceptcombinations where at least some of such features and/or steps aremutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details ofany foregoing aspects. The invention extends to any novel one, or anynovel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification(including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), or to anynovel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method orprocess so disclosed.

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” oneparticular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When sucha range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particularvalue and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it willbe understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will befurther understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges aresignificant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently ofthe other endpoint. “Optional” or “optionally” means that thesubsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

For the terms “for example” and “such as,” and grammatical equivalencesthereof, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to followunless explicitly stated otherwise. Similarly, when values are expressedas approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will beunderstood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will befurther understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges aresignificant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently ofthe other endpoint. Unless stated otherwise, the term “about” meanswithin 5% (e.g., within 2% or 1%) of the particular value modified bythe term “about.”

Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can bepresented in a range format. It should be understood that thedescription in range format is merely for convenience and brevity andshould not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be consideredto have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well asindividual numerical values within that range. For example, descriptionof a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specificallydisclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6, etc., as well as individual numberswithin that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, 6 and any wholeand partial increments therebetween. This applies regardless of thebreadth of the range. As used herein, the terms “substantially near” or“substantially abut” refer to a disclosed component, element, member, orarticle being positioned within at least about 85%, at least about 90%,at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at leastabout 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%,at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or about 100% of a component,element, member or article that it is described in reference to.

Further, the terms “coupled” and “associated” generally meanelectrically, electromagnetically, and/or physically (e.g., mechanicallyor chemically) coupled or linked and do not exclude the presence ofintermediate elements between the coupled or associated items. It willbe understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected”or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupledto the other element, or intervening elements may be present. Incontrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected”or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no interveningelements present. Other words used to describe the relationship betweenelements or layers should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g.,“between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directlyadjacent,” “on” versus “directly on”). As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions,layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers,and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms areonly used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, orsection from another element, component, region, layer, or a section.Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussedbelow could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, orsection without departing from the teachings of exemplary aspects.

There exists a need for thin, lightweight garments that are not“see-through” on wearers. “See-through” means that imperfections of thewearer’s skin, such as tattoos or cellulite, garment construction, orundergarments are visible to others through the garment, which can beundesirable or embarrassing for the wearer. Garments that have anexterior surface of a light shade, such as a pastel or white color, or apattern thereof, are frequently see-through. Prior art has attempted toaddress this issue by increasing the plies or the tightness of the weaveor knit of the fabric. However, this does not always provide enoughopacification to address the issue; additionally, this significantlyincreases the fabric weight and causes the garments to becomeundesirably stiff or thick. In certain aspects, disclosed herein aregarments comprising a concealing material designed to address thesheerness of fabrics having a light shade without significantlyincreasing fabric weight or thickness.

FIG. 1 shows the front side of an exemplary garment 10 as disclosedherein. FIG. 2 shows the back side of the same exemplary garment 10.FIGS. 3 and 4 show right and left sides of the garment 10, respectively.FIG. 5 shows the interior view of the front side of the garment 10. FIG.6 shows the interior view of the back side of the same garment 10. FIGS.7 and 8 show the interior view of the right and left sides of thegarment 10, respectively. FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of oneaspect of the material of the garment 10 with concealing technology.FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the materialof the garment 10 with concealing technology. As shown in theaccompanying drawings, the garment 10 comprises a concealing material60. As shown in FIG. 9 , some aspects of the concealing material 60comprise an outer layer 240 and an inner layer 250, wherein the innerlayer 250 further comprises an adhesive layer 220 and an inner material230, and the outer layer 240 comprises an outer material 210. As shownin FIG. 10 , other aspects of the concealing material 60 comprise anouter layer 240 and an inner layer 250, wherein the inner layer 250comprises an inner material 230, and the outer layer 240 comprises anouter material. In some aspects, the inner material 230 is a fiber thatis affixed to the outer layer 240 by a double knit or double weaveconfiguration. In other aspects, the inner material 230 is a textilecoating.

In certain aspects, the outer layer 240 is configured to cover at leasta main portion of an exterior surface of the garment. In some aspects,the outer layer 240 comprises an outer material 210 that is a knitted orwoven fabric. In still further aspects, the knitted or woven fabric ofthe outer layer 240 can comprise threads of any fiber type known in theart and applicable to the desired used. Specifically, the fiber type cancomprise natural and/or synthetic fibers. Exemplary fiber types include,but are not limited to, cotton, nylon, viscose, elastane, polyester,wool, rayon, silk, linen, and hemp. At least a portion of the outerlayer 240 can be white or a light shade, such as a pastel. The outerlayer 240 can be any print or pattern including white or a light shade.In other aspects, the outer layer 240 has a print or pattern with whiteand at least one other color. The outer layer can be in the style ofdressy, casual, or activewear, or any combination thereof.

As can be seen in accompanying FIGS. 5-8 , the inner layer 250 isconfigured to cover at least a portion of an interior surface of thegarment 10. In some aspects, the inner layer 250 is configured to coverthe entire interior surface of the garment 10. In other aspects, theinner layer 250 is configured to cover only a portion of the interiorsurface of the garment 10. For example, the inner layer 250 can beconfigured to cover the interior of the garment 10 where undergarmentscan typically be visible. In an upper body garment, the inner layer 250can be configured to cover the interior surface of the garment in thewearer’s bust area. In a lower body garment, the inner layer 250 can beconfigured to cover the interior surface of the garment in the wearer’slower torso and rear areas. In some embodiments, the inner layer 250 isaffixed to the outer layer 240 to create the concealing material that isthen cut and used to assemble the garment. In other embodiments, theinner layer 250 is affixed to the outer layer 240 after the garment iscompletely or partially assembled.

The inner layer 250 or inner material 230 can be a predetermined shadeon the gray scale. In some aspects, the predetermined shade on the grayscale has CIE LCh coordinates of L = 1.24, C = 0.73, and h = 0.72,wherein the Color Measurement Committee (CMC) color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC))is about 12 to 15. In some aspects, the color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC)) is15. In other aspects, color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC)) is 12. The inner layer250 or inner material 230, and particularly its gray shade, providesopacity to the garment while in use so that the garment is notsee-through. The inner layer 250 or inner material 230 masks cellulite,tattoos, or other markings or blemishes of the skin. Additionally, theinner layer 250 or inner material 230 masks undergarment color or thegarment’s construction, including seam allowance or pocket bags, forexample.

In certain aspects, the inner material 230 comprises a knitted or wovenfabric. The knitted or woven fabric can comprise threads of any fibertype known in the art that are suitable for the desired purpose. In someaspects, the fiber type can comprise natural and/or synthetic fibers.Exemplary fiber types include, but are not limited to, cotton, nylon,viscose, elastane, polyester, wool, rayon, silk, linen, and hemp. Theknitted or woven fabric can comprise the same or different threads asthe threads of the knitted or woven fabric of the outer material 210 ofthe outer layer 240. Additionally, the inner material 230 can beconfigured to be lightweight to provide for comfortability, style, andbreathability. For example, the inner material 230 may be a lightweightfabric of 30 to 150 GSM, 30 to 120 GSM, 30 to 100 GSM, 30 to 80 GSM, or30 to 50 GSM. In some aspects, the inner material 230 is of a lighterweight than the outer material 210. For example, the inner material 230may weigh 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% less than the outer material 210.Either the threads of the knitted or woven fabric of the inner material230, or the knitted or woven fabric of the inner material 230 itself canbe dyed to reach the predetermined shade on the gray scale prior toassembly of the garment.

In still further aspects and as shown in FIG. 9 , the concealingmaterial 60 comprises an adhesive layer 220 positioned between the outerand inner layers 240, 250. The adhesive layer 220 affixes at least aportion of an interior surface of the outer material 240 to at least aportion of an exterior surface of the inner material 230. In someaspects, the adhesive layer 220 affixes the entire interior surface ofthe outer material 210 to the entire exterior surface of the innermaterial 230. In some embodiments, the inner material 230 is affixed toat least a portion of the outer material 210 via the adhesive layer 220to create the concealing material 60 prior to cut and assembly of thegarment 10. In other embodiments, the inner material 230 is affixed toat least a portion of the outer material 210 via the adhesive layer 220after the garment 10 is completely or partially assembled. The adhesivelayer 220 prevents the inner material 230 and outer material 210 fromseparating or bunching separately, and thus it helps to create theoutward appearance of a smooth garment 10. The adhesive layer 220 cancomprise any adhesive capable of unreleasably adhering to a garment.Persons of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognizecommercially available adhesives suitable for use in the garmentsdisclosed herein. The adhesive layer 220 can comprise apressure-sensitive adhesive, glue, or hot-melt adhesive. Exemplaryadhesives that can be suitable for this application include, forinstance, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,073, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein in its all entirety. In some aspects, theadhesive can comprise a rubber, standard acrylic, modified acrylic,silicone, or combination thereof. Yet in other aspects, the adhesive canbe a polyamide, polyurethane, or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)adhesive or glue, or a combination thereof.

In other aspects and as shown in FIG. 10 , the concealing material 60comprises an outer layer 240 and an inner layer 250 with no adhesivelayer. In some aspects, the inner layer 250 comprises an inner material230. In further aspects, the inner layer 250 or inner material 230 is apredetermined shade on the gray scale. The predetermined shade on thegray scale has CIE LCh coordinates of L = 1.24, C = 0.73, and h = 0.72,wherein the Color Measurement Committee (CMC) color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC))is about 12 to 15. In some aspects, the color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC)) is15. In other aspects, color tolerance (ΔE_(CMC)) is 12. In some aspects,the inner material 230 is an interior-only fiber that is knitted orwoven onto the outer layer 240 using a double knit or double weaveconfiguration. In other aspects, the inner material 230 is an innercoating.

The inner material 230 can be configured to cover at least a portion ofan interior surface of the outer layer 240. In some aspects, the innermaterial 230 is configured to cover the entire interior surface of theouter layer 240. In other aspects, the inner material 230 is configuredto cover only a portion of the interior surface of the outer layer 240.For example, inner material 230 can be configured to cover the portionof the interior surface of the outer layer 240 where undergarments cantypically be visible. In some embodiments, the inner coating of theinner material 230 is directly coated onto the knitted or woven fabricof the outer layer 240 prior to cutting of the concealing material orassembly of the garment 10. In other embodiments, the inner coating ofthe inner material 230 is directly coated onto at least a portion of theinterior surface of the outer layer 240 after the garment is completelyor partially assembled. In an upper body garment, the inner layer 250can be configured to cover the interior of the outer layer 240 in thewearer’s bust area. In a lower body garment, the inner layer 250 can beconfigured to cover the interior of the outer layer 240 in the wearer’slower torso area. The inner coating can comprise a textile coatingcomposition. Persons of ordinary skill in the art would readilyrecognize commercially available textile coating compositions suitablefor use in the garments disclosed herein. In some aspects, the textilecoating composition can comprise an aqueous adhesive solution. Thetextile coating composition can comprise polyvinyl acetate, ethylenevinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, latex, styrenebutadiene, acrylic, polyethersulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, styrenebutadiene, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, or a combinationthereof.

FIGS. 1-8 depict a garment 10 disclosed herein as a pair of pants.However, in order to achieve the benefits disclosed herein, theconcealing technology can be applied to a variety of garments, includingbut not limited to, pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, tanks, camisoles,dresses, jackets, overalls, underwear, and brassiere. The depictedexemplary and unlimiting aspect of the garment 10 comprises a left sidesection and a right side section, forming left and right leg and leftand right lower body torso spaces, respectively. The left and right sidesections are affixed along a seam at the center of the garmentconfigured to extend from a superior edge of a front side of the garmentbetween the wearer’s legs to a superior edge of a rear side of thegarment. In some aspects, the garment further comprises a waistband 100positioned circumferentially along a superior edge of an interiorsurface of the garment 10. A portion of each of the left and right sidesections circumferentially folds upward and inward onto the innersurface of the left and right side sections, respectively. An upward andinward folded portion of a predetermined length is thereby formed foreach of the left and right side sections. Thus, in some aspects, thebottom edge of the left and right side sections is each defined by afold crease or a cuff 110.

Each of the left and right side sections can further comprise one ormore panels. In some aspects, each leg section comprises four panels: afirst rear panel 120, 130, a second rear panel 70, 80, a first frontpanel 30, 40, and a second front panel 20, 50. The first rear panels120, 130 are configured to cover at least a portion of medial areas ofthe rear of the wearer’s legs to the wearer’s waist, and the second rearpanels 70, 80 are configured to cover at least a portion of a lateralareas of the rear of the wearer’s legs to the wearer’s waist. The firstfront panels 30, 40 are configured to cover at least a portion of medialareas of the front of the wearer’s leg to the wearer’s waist, and thesecond front panels 20, 50 are configured to cover at least a portion oflateral areas of the front of the wearer’s legs to the wearer’s waist.At least a portion of a first edge of a first rear panel 120, 130 isaffixed to at least a portion of a first edge of a second rear panel 70,80 by a seam. At least a portion of a second edge of a second rear panel70, 80 is affixed to at least a portion of a first edge of a secondfront panel 20, 50 by a seam. At least a portion of a second edge of asecond front panel 20, 50 is affixed to at least a portion of a firstedge of a first front panel 30, 40 by a seam. A portion of a second edgeof a first rear panel 120, 130 is affixed to a portion of a second edgeof a first front panel 30, 40 via a continuous seam extending from aninferior edge of the right or left side section to the wearer’s crotcharea.

In some aspects, the garment 10 can comprise at least one fastener 90for the wearer’s convenience in putting on or removing the garment 10.The fastener(s) 90 can be any conventional fastener, or combinationthereof, known in the art, such as a zipper, button, toggle, stud, snap,popper, eyelet, buckle, hook and loop, hook and eye, magnet, frog,grommet, brooch, bucket loop, safety pin, laces, and fabric tie. Thefastener(s) 90 can be configured to open or release in a longitudinaldirection from a superior or inferior edge of the garment 10. Thefastener(s) 90 can be positioned anywhere on the garment 10. In someaspects, the fastener(s) 90 can be placed at the most medial or laterallocations of the garment 10. In some aspects where the garment is a pairof pants, shorts, underwear, or a skirt, the fastener(s) 90 can bepositioned anywhere along a waist-encircling portion of the garment 10.In further aspects, the fastener(s) 90 can be positioned to partially orcompletely open a waistband 100 for easier removal of the garment 10. Insome aspects where the garment is a shirt, tank, camisole, dress,jacket, overalls, or a brassiere, the fastener(s) 90 can be positionedanywhere along a torso-encircling portion of the garment. In furtheraspects, the fastener(s) 90 can be positioned to partially or completelyopen a torso-encircling band, overall shoulder straps, or a front orback area of the garment at a medial location for easier removal of thegarment.

Methods of making a garment are also disclosed herein. In some aspects,the method of making the depicted aspect of the garment 10 comprisesproviding a concealing material 60. Providing a concealing material 60can comprise the use of various techniques. The concealing material 60can be constructed via lamination, fusing, or coating. Persons ofordinary skill in the art would readily recognize commercially availablelamination, fusing, and textile coating techniques suitable for use inmaking the garments disclosed herein. Exemplary coating techniques thatcan be suitable for this application include, for instance, screenprinting, pigment printing, digital printing, 3D printing, directcoating, spray coating, extrusion coating, or foamed coating.

In one aspect, the concealing material 60 is constructed by providing anouter layer 240 and an inner material 230. The inner material 230 isadhered to at least a portion of the outer layer 240 using an adhesivelayer 220 positioned between the inner material 230 and outer layer 240.Specifically, at least a portion of an exterior surface of the innermaterial 230 can be laminated or fused to at least a portion of aninterior surface of the outer layer 240. In another aspect, theconcealing material 60 is constructed by providing an outer layer 240and directly applying an inner material 230 comprising a coating to atleast a portion of an interior surface of the outer layer 240 via aconventional textile printing or coating technique as disclosed herein.In still another aspect, the concealing material 60 is constructed byproviding an outer layer 240 and affixing an inner material 230comprising an interior-only fiber that is knitted or woven onto at leasta portion of an interior surface of the outer layer 240 via a doubleknit or double weave configuration.

The method of making the aspect of the garment 10 depicted in thefigures further comprises cutting the concealing material 60 into a leftside section and a right side section, forming a left leg and lowertorso space and a right leg and lower torso space. The method furthercomprises sewing the left and right side sections along a seam at aportion of the center of the garment, configured to extend from asuperior edge of a front side of the garment 10, between the wearer’slegs, and to a superior edge of a rear side of the garment 10. Themethod further comprises unreleasably affixing a waistband 100circumferentially along a superior edge of an interior surface of thegarment 10. The method can further comprise circumferentially folding,and affixing via a seam, a portion of each of the left and right sidesections upward and inward onto the inner surface of the left and rightside sections, respectively.

Forming the left and right side sections can further comprise formingone or more panels. In some aspects, forming either the left or rightside section comprises forming four panels: a first rear panel 120, 130,a second rear panel 70, 80, a first front panel 30, 40, and a secondfront panel 20, 50. At least a portion of a first edge of a first rearpanel 120, 130 is affixed to at least a portion of a first edge of asecond rear panel 70, 80 by a seam. At least a portion of a second edgeof a second rear panel 70, 80 is affixed to at least a portion of afirst edge of a second front panel 20, 50 by a seam. At least a portionof a second edge of a second front panel 20, 50 is affixed to at least aportion of a first edge of a first front panel 30, 40 by a seam. Aportion of a second edge of a first rear panel 120, 130 is affixed to aportion of a second edge of a first front panel 30, 40 via a continuousseam extending from an inferior edge of the right or left side sectionto the wearer’s crotch area. The method of making the garment 10depicted herein can further comprise providing a fastener 90 configuredto open anywhere along the wearer’s waistband 100.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theimplementation was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious implementations with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A garment comprising a concealing material, wherein the concealingmaterial comprises an inner layer and an outer layer overlaying theinner layer, wherein at least a portion of the outer layer is white- orpastel-colored; and wherein at least a portion of the inner layer has apredetermined shade of gray; and wherein the garment is configured toconceal at least a portion of an undergarment, the garment’sconstruction, or at least a portion of a wearer’s natural anatomy whenin use.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the predetermined shade onthe gray scale has CIE LCh coordinates of L = 1.24, C = 0.73, and h =0.72, and wherein AE_(CMC) is
 12. 3. The garment of claim 2, wherein theouter layer comprises a knitted or woven fabric.
 4. The garment of claim3, wherein the inner layer further comprises an inner material and theinner material is adhered to the outer layer with an adhesive layer. 5.The garment of claim 4, wherein the inner material comprises a knittedor woven fabric that is the same as or different from the knitted orwoven fabric of the outer layer.
 6. The garment of claim 4, wherein theadhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a glue, or ahot-melt adhesive.
 7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the adhesive layercomprises a rubber, standard acrylic, modified acrylic, silicone,polyamide, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, or combinationthereof.
 8. The garment of claim 5, wherein the garment is a lower bodygarment comprising a left side section and a right side section, whereinthe left and right side sections form a left leg and lower torso spaceand right leg and lower torso space, respectively, and wherein at leasta portion of the left and right side sections comprise the concealingmaterial.
 9. The garment of claim 8, wherein each of the left and rightside sections further comprise a first rear panel, a second rear panel,a first front panel, and a second front panel; wherein the first andsecond rear panels of the left and right sides are configured to coverthe rear side of the wearer; and wherein the first and second frontpanels of the left and right sides are configured to cover the frontside of the wearer.
 10. The garment of claim 9, wherein at least aportion of a first edge of the first rear panel is affixed to at least aportion of a first edge of the second rear panel by a first seam; atleast a portion of a second edge of the second rear panel is affixed toat least a portion of a first edge of the second front panel by a secondseam; at least a portion of a second edge of the second front panel isaffixed to at least a portion of a first edge of the first front panelby a third seam; a portion of a second edge of the first rear panel isaffixed to a portion of a second edge of the first front panel by afourth seam; remaining portions of the second edges of the first rearpanels are affixed by a fifth seam; and remaining portions of the secondedges of the first front panels are affixed by a sixth seam.
 11. Thegarment of claim 3, wherein the inner layer comprises an interior-onlyfiber knitted or woven onto at least a portion of an interior surface ofthe outer layer using a double knit or double weave configuration. 12.The garment of claim 3, wherein the inner layer comprises an innercoating directly coated on the outer layer.
 13. The garment of claim 12,wherein the inner coating comprises one or more of polyvinyl acetate,ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, latex,styrene butadiene, acrylic, polyethersulfone, polyvinyl alcohol, styrenebutadiene, or a combination thereof.
 14. A method of making a lower bodygarment, the method comprising: providing a concealing material havingan outer layer and an inner layer; cutting a left side section and aright side section from the concealing material; and attaching the leftside section to the right side section such that the left and right sidesections form a left leg and lower torso space and right leg and lowertorso space, respectively.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein at least aportion of the outer layer is white- or pastel-colored, and the innerlayer has a predetermined shade on the gray scale with CIE LChcoordinates of L = 1.24, C = 0.73, and h = 0.72, and wherein AE_(CMC) is12.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein providing the inner layercomprises an inner material and providing the concealing materialfurther comprises laminating or bonding an exterior surface of the innermaterial to at least a portion of an interior surface of the outer layerwith an unreleasable adhesive.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein theunreleasable adhesive comprises a rubber, standard acrylic, modifiedacrylic, silicone, or combination thereof.
 18. The method of claim 15wherein the inner layer comprises an inner coating, and providing theconcealing material further comprises directly coating the inner coatingonto at least a portion of an interior surface of the outer layer. 19.The method of claim 19 wherein the inner coating comprises a polyvinylacetate, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride,latex, styrene butadiene, acrylic, polyethersulfone, polyvinyl alcohol,styrene butadiene, or a combination thereof.
 20. The method of claim 15wherein the inner layer comprises an interior-only fiber knitted orwoven onto at least a portion of an interior surface of the outer layerusing a double knit or double weave configuration.